Peace Mothers paid solidarity visit to Leyla Güven

via ANF-News

“The whole world should know this: we mothers will not be silent.”

DTK co-chair and HDP MP Leyla Güven has been on hunger strike for 106 days demanding the end of isolation against Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan.

Amed and Istanbul Peace Mothers Councils visited Güven at her home in the neighborhood of Bağcılar in Bağlar district to express their solidarity.

After the visit, the Peace Mothers made a statement.

“Demands should be met”

Istanbul Peace Mothers Council member Bediya Duman said: “Leyla is the will of a people. Leyla is on the threshold of death. The government should end this situation. They must meet Leyla Güven’s demand. This is a simple demand, why does the government remain silent? They have kids too, don’t they have any feelings? Don’t they have any human feelings?”

Addressing the government and the Minister of Justice, Duman said: “We want Leyla Güven’s demand to be fulfilled. The hunger strikes are demanding the end of the isolation of Abdullah Öcalan. This isolation should be lifted. Demands must be met. Leyla Güven is the will of millions and this attitude towards her must end.”

Reaction to silence

Peace Mother Bedia Gökyüz also criticized the silence of the public opinion. Gökyüz reminded that the action taken by Leyla Güven is now at a critical stage and added: “The whole world should know this: we mothers will not be silent. The isolation of Mr. Öcalan is applied to both peoples and women. Knowing that isolation is affecting women, Leyla Güven decided to use her body to counter it. This is not an ordinary action. More than 300 children of ours are on hunger strike.”

Stating that Leyla Güven is a representative of women and mothers, Gökyüz said: “Listen to our voice now. This isolation should be removed. These people are using their bodies to counter injustice. I appeal to all people of Turkey and to the Kurdish people: it is time to see the mothers’ wounds. Our demand is the removal of isolation so the hunger strike actions can end.”